Of your soft cheveril1 conscience would receive, Anne. Nay, good troth, — Old L. Yes, troth, and troth, You would not be a queen? Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven. Old L. 'Tis strange: a three-pence bowed would hire me, Old as I am, to queen it: But, I pray you, What think you of a duchess? have you limbs To bear that load of title? Anne. No, in truth. Old L. Then you are weakly made: Pluck off a little; 2 I would not be a young count in your way, For more than blushing comes to: if your back Cannot vouchsafe this burden, 'tis too weak Ever to get a boy. Anne. How you do talk! I swear again, I would not be a queen For all the world. Old L. In faith, for little England You'd venture an emballing: I myself Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here? Enter the Lord Chamberlain. Cham. Good morrow, ladies. What wer't worth to know The secret of your conference? Anne. My good lord, Not your demand; it values not your asking: Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying. 1 Cham. It was a gentle business, and becoming 2 cheveril - Is kid skin, soft leather. Pluck off a little ; &c.] i. e. let us still further divest preferment of its glare, let us descend yet lower, and more upon a level with your own quality. The action of good women: there is hope, All will be well. Anne. Now I pray God, amen! Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings Anne. Cham. Lady, 4 I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit, Beauty and honour in her are so mingled, [Aside. That they have caught the king: and who knows yet, To lighten all this isle? I'll to the king, And say, I spoke with you. Anne. My honour'd lord. 3 More than my all is nothing, &c.] [Exit Lord Chamberlain. More than my all is nothing, for my prayers and wishes are of no value, and yet prayers and wishes are all I have to return. 1 4 I shall not fail, &c.] I shall not omit to strengthen, by my commendation, the opinion which the king has formed. Old L. Why, this it is; see, see! I have been begging sixteen years in court, Anne. mouth fill'd up, This is strange to me. Old L. How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no. There was a lady once, ('tis an old story,) That would not be a queen, that would she not, Old L. 5 With your theme, I could O'ermount the lark. The marchioness of Pembroke ! A thousand pounds a year! for pure respect; No other obligation: By my life, That promises more thousands: Honour's train Anne. Say, Good lady, Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy, To thinks what follows. The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful What do you think me? [Exeunt. 5 is it bitter? forty pence, no.] Forty pence was, in those days, the proverbial expression of a small wager, or a small sum. Money was then reckoned by pounds, marks, and nobles. 6 For all the mud in Egypt:] The fertility of Egypt is derived from the mud and slime of the Nile. SCENE IV. A Hall in Black-fryars. Trumpets, Sennet', and Cornets. Enter two Vergers, with short silver wands; next them two Scribes in the habits of doctors; after them, the Archbishop of CANTERBURY alone; after him, the Bishops of LINCOLN, ELY, ROCHESTER, and SAINT ASAPH; next them, with some small distance, follows a Gentleman, bearing the Purse, with the great seal, and a cardinal's hat; then two Priests, bearing each a silver cross; then a GentlemanUsher bare-headed, accompanied with a Sergeant at Arms, bearing a silver mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great silver pillars; after them, side by side, the two Cardinals WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS; two Noblemen with the sword and mace. King and Queen and their Trains. place under the cloth of state; the two Cardinals sit under him as judges. The Queen takes place at some distance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each side the court, in manner of a consistory ; between them, the Scribes. The Lords sit next the Bishops. The Crier and the rest of the Attendants stand in convenient order about the stage. Then enter the The King takes Wol. Whilst our commission from Rome is read, Let silence be commanded. K. Hen. What's the need? It hath already publickly been read, Sennet,] Dr. Burney (whose General History of Musick has been so highly and deservedly applauded) undertook to trace the etymology, and discover the certain meaning of this term, but without success. Mr. Malone thinks it was no more than a flourish, or sounding. 8 -pillars;] Pillars were some of the ensigns of dignity carried before cardinals. Scribe. Say, Henry king of England, come into the court. Crier. Henry king of England, &c. K. Hen. Here. Scribe. Say, Katharine queen of England, come into court. Crier. Katharine queen of England, &c. [The Queen makes no answer, rises out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the King, and kneels at his feet; then speaks. Q. Kath. Sir, I desire you, do me right and justice; And to bestow your pity on me: for I am a most poor woman, and a stranger, Born out of your dominions; having here Ever in fear to kindle your dislike, Yea, subject to your countenance; glad, or sorry, I ever contradicted your desire, Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends He was from thence discharg'd? Sir, call to mind |